Diego Fagundez and Juan Agudelo continued their impressive form on Saturday, May 25th when they each scored to help the New England Revolution record a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC. Agudelo has now scored in each of the two games he has played for the Revs while Fagundez’s goal was his fourth of the season and third in as many matches. The two young attackers have developed a positive relationship in recent weeks which will only help the Revs going forward.
On Saturday, Fagundez and Agudelo started on opposite sides of the midfield which limited combination play but didn’t stop them from communicating. The players often switched sides as a way of varying the attack and confusing the defenders. Fagundez and Agudelo worked hard to make the switches rapid and secretive in order to increase effectiveness.
“I actually like (switching) a lot because you don’t have one side to stay on the whole game you can move around and test the defenders you’re playing against,” Fagundez explained. “If you play 90 against just one defender he going to know what you’re doing so you just switch it up and they get confused.”
In the 72nd minute, Agudelo was asked to occupy the position of lone striker which allowed the two youngsters to linkup more often. In the 88th minute, Fagundez attacked from the left flank and sent in a cross that was punched away by goalkeeper Joe Bendick before it could reach an open Agudelo. One minute later, Fagundez tried to square a ball to Agudelo but Bendick was there to intercept. While neither chance led to a goal, these moments showcased the blossoming relationship between Agudelo and Fagundez.
When asked why the duo has formed such a great partnership early on, Fagundez answered, “I think it all starts because (we) both speak Spanish. The other thing is when we work together we try to communicate with each other, so I think that’s why we are going positive now. We just have to keep talking and communicating and then move forward.”
Agudelo returned the compliment by saying, “It’s awesome (to play with Fagundez in a free style of play). I feel like that’s me and Diego’s style of play. Since I’ve been here, he’s been right next to my locker. We get along. We have a great partnership so far, and I’m excited to keep working with him.”
Although their chemistry is building, Agudelo and Fagundez have yet to directly combine for a goal. On Saturday, Fagundez’s goal came from a Chris Tierney cross in 23rd minute while Agudelo and Saer Sene worked together to provide the insurance goal in the 93rd minute. Regardless, it’s clear that Agudelo and Fagundez make the team, and each other, better.
When asked what it’s like to play for a club that has so much competition, Agudelo commented, “I think it’s awesome, because we get along with each other really well. We compete. Even if we’re doing shooting drills, we say, ‘Oh, I bet I can score more goals than you,’ stuff like that. It just makes every player in their position better.”
3 Observations and Revelations
1. After doing the unexpected, the Revs did the expected. Last week’s win against the Dynamo was a pleasant surprise since most Revs fans believed that the trip to BBVA Compass Stadium would result in a loss. The win wouldn’t have meant much, however, if the Revolution was unable to beat Toronto FC. Before Saturday’s game, Toronto was winless in nine matches with seven points and a goal differential of -5. Although the game looked like an easy win, the Revs have always struggled with these scenarios. Tierney explained, “We talked about it in that this is a classic trap game…but looking at the film they are not a bad team. They’ve got players that are dangerous and can hurt you. They created a few half chances here and there, but we knew if we focused 110 percent there was no way we were going to lose this game at home.”
2. The Revs made a conscious effort to keep possession. Part of the reason that the Revs have been so successful recently is because of their ability to keep the ball with smart, quick passes. On Saturday, the team took their initiative to the next level by greatly reducing the number of 50-50 balls. Early in the game, Bobby Shuttleworth often utilized short goal kicks instead of playing the ball long. This was seen twice in the third minute alone. The same strategy was also used with throw-ins and corner kicks. The final stats show that the Revs lost 64.9% of the duels which highlights why the team should try to limit 50-50 balls.
3. Tierney’s 100th start is a winner. Tierney’s story is a compelling one since the Massachusetts native has gone from supplemental pick to important cog. While his pace and defending is often criticized by fans, Tierney has provided some great moments during his loyal servitude. Against Toronto, Tierney made 40 successful passes, 4 interceptions and one shot on goal. Of course, his best moment came in the 23rd minute when he offered a picturesque cross that Fagundez finished. Tierney humbly look back at the game by saying, “I’m happier about three points than 100 starts, but like I’ve always said I’m really proud to be from New England and to have 100 starts for this club is something I never thought would happen and it’s a dream come true.”
(image courtesy of revolutionsoccer.net)
